Kriegsmarine U534, Birkenhead

One of the last U-boats to leave Germany after the surrender, U534 was sunk by a Liberator bomber. There were rumours of a high-level German official escaping the crumbled Nazi empire inside the vessel, but no documents or artefacts relating to this rumour were found when the ship was salvaged.

I managed to get these photos during one of the last tours when it was at the Historic Warships museum in Birkenhead.

One of the last U-boats to leave Germany after the surrender, U534 was sunk by a Liberator bomber. There were rumours of a high-level German official escaping the crumbled Nazi empire inside the vessel, but no documents or artefacts relating to this rumour were found when the ship was salvaged.

I managed to get these photos during one of the last tours when it was at the Historic Warships museum in Birkenhead.

That U-Boat should be protected from further corrosion. The perfect place for those ships is West Waterloo/Princes and Princes Half-Tide Docks. The fools filled them in to canal boat depths. No idea whatsoever.

Deprived of its unique dockland waters Liverpool
becomes a Venice without canals, just another city, no
longer of special interest to anyone, least of all the
tourist. Would we visit a modernised Venice of filled in
canals to view its modern museum describing
how it once was?

I know, it's ridiculous. What better place for a museum on shipping than on Liverpool's waterfront? Why couldn't they have moved to Prince's half-tide... that would have been immense, and a crowd puller...

I know, it's ridiculous. What better place for a museum on shipping than on Liverpool's waterfront? Why couldn't they have moved to Prince's half-tide... that would have been immense, and a crowd puller...

It needs intelligence and joined up thinking. Somthing Liverpool city council and its planners are devoid of.

Deprived of its unique dockland waters Liverpool
becomes a Venice without canals, just another city, no
longer of special interest to anyone, least of all the
tourist. Would we visit a modernised Venice of filled in
canals to view its modern museum describing
how it once was?

Kriegsmarine U-534, Birkenhead

Make of this what you will. My attempt to have a last walk through the U-boat before it gets cut up for 'display'. No doubt plenty will disapprove, but if they're going to just let it sit around and rot then they can't expect everyone to live with it. I find it rather shocking that there are so few internal pictures available in the public domain, despite the fact it was open for tours for several years.

Naturally no damage was done to the boat, and if anyone is in any doubt about just how historically important I consider the boat to be, then read my full report. It really was quite an adventure. Those brave men who lived (and died) in the U-boat flotilla have my eternal respect.

An excellent full report Snappel, I originally wanted to know what the tennis racket was for, I suppose its to get a rope up high. I'm amazed at the preparations that go into it. I can imagine how scary the shear hight of the thing is when u stood next to it plus the size of the inside.

Liverpool in Pictures/ YO! Liverpool has taken me over 10 years to develop and maintain.

Excellent pictures and report, Snappel. You also helped inspire a poem. See below.

Chris

***************

Not a whale

-- not exactly:
some might say
a shark or wolf

comes to mind
more -- and blood-
red swastika flags;

for the water laps
languid at Birkenhead
where a rusted U-Boat lies:

Kriegsmarine U-534
sits dry above a dock,
a predator at bay:

a beached whale.

Christopher T. George

Snappel, if you don't mind I am posting this poem on a few poetry sites and crediting you, giving the http://www.level-two.co.uk/u534.php website address also. If you have any objection to same, I can remove the images there. Let me know.

Excellent Chris, I like it! Worth pointing out though, that even though red swastika flags were carried by the U-boats, most members of the Kriegsmarine were not Nazi's themselves, and in fact many despised them. Speaking out and denouncing Hitler and the regime could, however, lead to unpleasant consequences.

I only point that out in defence of the men who were just (like our own sailors) serving their country, not because it doesn't work in the poem!

u boat

Snappel I haven,t as yet read your report but will later, but I find the photos of the u boat brilliant. There is a neighbour of mine who was in the subs during the war and his wish is to go and see this u boat at Birkenhead. Unfortunately the poor old chap is unsteady on his feet and has undergone surgery for cancer and will never get up to see the u boat. With your permission I will print them out and take them round to his home so the old chap can see a glimpse of the inside of it.